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101st out of 393 books
—
928 voters
The Bachelor of Arts
by
R.K. Narayan
"There are writers—Tolstoy and Henry James to name two—whom we hold in awe, writers—Turgenev and Chekhov—for whom we feel a personal affection, other writers whom we respect—Conrad for example—but who hold us at a long arm's length with their 'courtly foreign grace.' Narayan (whom I don't hesitate to name in such a context) more than any of them wakes in me a spring of gra...more
Paperback, 266 pages
Published
October 1st 1994
by University Of Chicago Press
(first published 1937)
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It has always been that oddity of imaginative earthy characters of R.K Narayan that readers get hooked up to know the deeper treasure of fictitious tale by him. He is one of the most illustrious Indian novelists. This master storyteller was born in Madras (Chennai). As, many of us would recall our days of fascination for the short stories by R.K Narayan: Malgudi Days – set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. Bachelor of Arts is significantly written on the same line of characters and...more
well as to my conviction,i chose the book because it belonged to the authority of r.k narayan.but i feel very remorseful and regretfull that i was thoroughly dishearted reading it..yes sure the book brought out a handful of "childhood memories"as they always do,but i begun to accept nothin more than that soon after completing 7-8 chapters.the bachelor of arts is a story of chandra,a yound b.a from the village of malgudi.throughout the story narayan keeps on explainig the normal routine events of...more
Alright.. here is the deal..
This is one book which brings out how one ordinary Indian living in rural India spends his life. The emotions and reactions are true to their core.
I for one could not give it more than 3-stars for:
1. The story writes about small day-to-day activities and thoughts behind them, which I myself have been through. I could never write it down, neither do I think I possibly can. At times I wish them away. Reading the book evoked those thoughts again.
2. At places I was tempte...more
This is one book which brings out how one ordinary Indian living in rural India spends his life. The emotions and reactions are true to their core.
I for one could not give it more than 3-stars for:
1. The story writes about small day-to-day activities and thoughts behind them, which I myself have been through. I could never write it down, neither do I think I possibly can. At times I wish them away. Reading the book evoked those thoughts again.
2. At places I was tempte...more
1 like · like · see review
The second of the four 'Malgugi' novels in the Everyman's Library Edition anthology.
As I began 'The Bachelor of Arts,' I thought it less affecting than 'Swami and Friends,' but then R.K. Narayan's seemingly guileless and unassuming prose worked its magic. The myopic, self-centered world view of its protagonist, Chandran, a spoiled and self-indulgent upper middle-class college graduate unsure of his place in the world, could have quickly made his follies and foibles tiresome.
Narayan, however, br...more
As I began 'The Bachelor of Arts,' I thought it less affecting than 'Swami and Friends,' but then R.K. Narayan's seemingly guileless and unassuming prose worked its magic. The myopic, self-centered world view of its protagonist, Chandran, a spoiled and self-indulgent upper middle-class college graduate unsure of his place in the world, could have quickly made his follies and foibles tiresome.
Narayan, however, br...more
Dec 14, 2012
Nicholas
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
india,
bildungsroman
Of Narayan, Graham Greene, his mentor — and the man who saved Narayan from publisher-rejection hell – says, “Narayan more than any other of them [Tolstoy, Henry James, Turgenev, Chekhov] wakes in me a spring of gratitude...Without him, I could never have known what it is like to be Indian.”
Greene is correct, of course, but Narayan’s work is much more than merely an opportunity for the reader to engage in a bit of tourism-by-literature. Narayan, to my mind, writes with more levity than Greene (...more
Greene is correct, of course, but Narayan’s work is much more than merely an opportunity for the reader to engage in a bit of tourism-by-literature. Narayan, to my mind, writes with more levity than Greene (...more
It was my first Narayan book so obviously I was quite curious as well as excited to finally read one of the most respected Indian author of all time. And now I know why I heard about him so much for all these years; absolutely brilliant to say the least. He has put a simple small town story in such a beautiful way that you feel like being there and seeing this entire story from your own eyes.
It is absolutely amazing when you get to know that it was published in 1937 and still you can connect at...more
It is absolutely amazing when you get to know that it was published in 1937 and still you can connect at...more
2 likes · like · see review
My second RKN book. Had no qualms transporting myself to my good old days; as it is with every RKN work I have come across. This time around he took me back to my college days, following the school day reminiscences brought about in his first ever novel, 'Swami & Friends'. Gobbled up 50% of the book in a single train journey, lying down comfortably in an air-conditioned sleeper coach of Indian railways, travelling to Madurai from Chennai. Was a very pleasant read, very simple plot, with no m...more
The second book which is set in Malgudi after swami and friends. This one too explores the livelihood of a Indian youth of upper middle class.
The book travels from the final year of Chandran's degree till his marriage. It starts of with the unrested movements of a final year college boy. After his marriage proposal is turned down by a girl's family due to astrological reasons, he goes on sanyasam for the girl to whom he haven't even talked and had just exchanged glances. Later the story unfolds...more
The book travels from the final year of Chandran's degree till his marriage. It starts of with the unrested movements of a final year college boy. After his marriage proposal is turned down by a girl's family due to astrological reasons, he goes on sanyasam for the girl to whom he haven't even talked and had just exchanged glances. Later the story unfolds...more
R.k Narayan embarking on his journey; the task of unfolding the life and people of Malgudi, a fictional town, born out of a sheer brilliance and imagination of the great Novelist. Being the second novel, in the series to follow, the novel displays CHandran, a young boy, involved with his studies, who later fell in love with a girl. Well, the innocence lies in the fact that he never talked with the girl, and decided to marry her. After the Horoscopes didn't matched, the melodramatic technique of...more
LEARN the LIFE of Chandran...
a super excellent book ,it keeps u going the book is divided into 3 parts...throughout we'll learn how a human being reacts to certain situation ..heartbreak,question abt career.lost frds new frds..tormented life ...and THE DAILY MESSENGER plays their part in shaping CHANDRANS LIFE ...?SUDDENLY BECOMING A SANYAS QUITE HUMOROUS N PAINFUL A BIT...BUT AT THE END SUSILA HER WANNABE WIFE BECOMES CHANDRAN'S REASON TO WRITE THOUSAND OF LOVE-LETTER N KISSES 2 MALTHI..LOVED...more
a super excellent book ,it keeps u going the book is divided into 3 parts...throughout we'll learn how a human being reacts to certain situation ..heartbreak,question abt career.lost frds new frds..tormented life ...and THE DAILY MESSENGER plays their part in shaping CHANDRANS LIFE ...?SUDDENLY BECOMING A SANYAS QUITE HUMOROUS N PAINFUL A BIT...BUT AT THE END SUSILA HER WANNABE WIFE BECOMES CHANDRAN'S REASON TO WRITE THOUSAND OF LOVE-LETTER N KISSES 2 MALTHI..LOVED...more
Another Master stroke of the legend RK Narayan. The beautiful depiction about friendship and Love is what all philosphies talk about in all the ages. But here this has been represented in a lucid manner. This book has some hidden take aways. For me I personally took one important thing out of this work. I have never kept a count , how many times I persuaded myself with the message of this sought , but I kept going like this with every time viewing it in different pereception. After all it is the...more
Apr 16, 2013
Vijai
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
justbeautiful,
lifechanging
I had almost believed that I would never be convinced about the completeness of a love story; That is until I read this book.
If you could excuse the adolescent age of the female protagonist in the story (come on! we are talking of pre - 1947 India here) you will like myself experience or may I say relive that one serious first love (unsuccessful) story of yours. No kidding, this book hit very close to home for me, don't ask, long story.
There were some situations in this book that almost made m...more
If you could excuse the adolescent age of the female protagonist in the story (come on! we are talking of pre - 1947 India here) you will like myself experience or may I say relive that one serious first love (unsuccessful) story of yours. No kidding, this book hit very close to home for me, don't ask, long story.
There were some situations in this book that almost made m...more
Aug 09, 2012
Navaneeta
added it
Do we outgrow love? Do we outgrow hope? Do we outgrow Narayan?
No!!! Never!!!
Narayan's stories are the best because they are simple. Not only is Malgudi familiar to me, but I have lived many incidents that occurs there. Chandran's extensive study timetables... now who among us has not wasted many precious hours preparing those! This book too is a happy making book in a very Narayan way.
No!!! Never!!!
Narayan's stories are the best because they are simple. Not only is Malgudi familiar to me, but I have lived many incidents that occurs there. Chandran's extensive study timetables... now who among us has not wasted many precious hours preparing those! This book too is a happy making book in a very Narayan way.
This is the first RK Narayan novel I have read. I was very intrigued by the simplicity in his writing. The metaphors and symbolism used throughout the novel really stands out. This book is worth reading at least once. The climax, if it could be called a climx, is very different. It makes one think and wonder. The concept of infactuation and true love is depicted brilliantly by Narayan through his main character "Chandran".
the characters are so simple and the plot is pacy... R K Narayan's wit n wry humour makes it worth reading. n the way he's portrayed and projected situations and his characters also deserve a mention.. on the whole this book is simply adorable!
Sindhu S Bharadwaj
Sindhu S Bharadwaj
May 07, 2013
Aditya Sural
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
whomever wants to start reading novels
Recommended to Aditya by:
My Sister
The generation of past. The frustration the marriage music causes in Chandran and him running away from it still haunts me. The writing was simple, but the way RK Narayan Sir describes the situations is amazing. It is a good story by amazing storyteller.
I just love Narayan's town of Malgudi and all the people he has created to live in Malgudi...His writing style and the beautiful and simple way he presents the day to day life of the people of Malgudi is simply a gift....
Wow! it is my destiny to have read this book. My friend had been reading this book and by mistake it came into my bag. It surely is the most beautiful creation of Mr R.K.Narayan
Right from this first page this book has the capability to engross its readers into the twist and turns of the plot which apparently is very simple but really very well written.
I have never really enjoyed the short stories by RK Narayan so I had never imagined that I would like this particular book by him.It came to me a...more
Right from this first page this book has the capability to engross its readers into the twist and turns of the plot which apparently is very simple but really very well written.
I have never really enjoyed the short stories by RK Narayan so I had never imagined that I would like this particular book by him.It came to me a...more
Really enjoyed this depiction of life in India in the 1930's, while capturing the same challenges young graduates feel in any time. Narayan always surprises me with the timelessness of his prose and characters.
its so easy to read and smooth.It seems followp work of swami and friends.The protoganist,Chandran, a history student riminded us college life.must read for who loves indian simplicity
Jun 11, 2011
Norain MT
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Norain MT by:
Khairul H.
Shelves:
barr-smith-library
Because I am doing Bachelor of International Studies (which is in the Arts stream) I can relate to the early part of this novel. Oh, silly, silly Chandran! And how silly I am!
I loved this book, until the end, when it just ends, abruptly, as if the author had simply stopped writing. Very very frustrating. I want to know what happens next!
RK Narayan is a master. A simple story of a boy who finishes college and falls into love and then gets a job. But with the simplicity Narayan talks here, is rare. Read it to believe it if you haven't read him, but first read Swami n Friends to which the book is almost a sequel.
The book has good humour and a perfect narration of a youngster's mind. What I do not understand is what the author implies at the end.
It was my first RK Narayan book...I really enjoyed reading it but was quite disappointed when I reached the end. It ended so abruptly!
Pleasant, Sunday-afternoon read. Narayan is not an earth-shattering writer, but he is an enjoyable one.
Charming and "small", an intimate look at family life in India around 1930.
Awesome storyline with occasional witty punch lines.
one more masterpiece from the master himself
I like RK Narayan's way of saying deep things in a simple manner. I'll like to have more of that - thank you, Mr Narayan.
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R. K. Narayan is among the best known and most widely read Indian novelists writing in English.
R.K. Narayan was born in Madras, South India, in 1906, and educated there and at Maharaja's College in Mysore. His first novel, Swami and Friends and its successor, The Bachelor of Arts, are both set in the enchanting fictional territory of Malgudi and are only two out of the twelve novels he based there...more
More about R.K. Narayan...
R.K. Narayan was born in Madras, South India, in 1906, and educated there and at Maharaja's College in Mysore. His first novel, Swami and Friends and its successor, The Bachelor of Arts, are both set in the enchanting fictional territory of Malgudi and are only two out of the twelve novels he based there...more
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“Friendship was another illusion like love, though it did not reach the same mad heights. People pretended that they were friends, when the fact was they were brought together by force of circumstances.”
—
3 people liked it
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I am still confused about the story though :P
Nov 04, 2012 09:17pm